Children{40 s rocking and climbing toy

ABSTRACT

A children&#39;&#39;s amusement toy of a curved outer surface intersecting two parallel sides and a flat surface to form a solid body is disclosed. The body has a hollow center formed therein of a different configuration than the outer surface with a tunnel extending from the center to each side in a mutually perpendicular arrangement to allow children to rock within and upon the toy, climb through and upon the toy, and climb through and over the toy. The solid body is made to present a pleasing appearance through use of transparent surface material and a filling of multicolored foam material.

United States Patent 1 1 3,730,522 Paczkowski [4 May 1, 1973 [54] CHILDREN'S ROCKING AND 3,632,109 1 1972 Dattner ..272/60 x CLIMBING TOY OTHER PUBLICATIONS Assignee:

Filed:

Inventor: Sandra K. Paczkowski, Montreal,

Canada Arts, Minneapolis, Minn.

Apr. 19, 1971 Appl. No.: 135,072

[52] US. Cl ..272/60, 272/56 [51 Int. Cl. ..A63g 31/00 [58] Field of Search ..272/] R, 56, 60; 46/1 R, 16, 24, 25, 29; 35/72; D29/ll.2; D34/5+6.4 H, 15-18 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,663,346 5/1972 Schoen ..272/6O UX 3,279,794 10/1966 Jenkinsm. ..272/56 2,723,853 ll/l955 Rees v ..272/1 R 3,623,243 11/1971 Hick ..35/72 3,079,644 3/1963 Molitor et al. ..273/DlG. 5 UX Toddlers Tunnel Gym No. 7, catalog of Whitney Bros. Co., p. 3, published prior to Mar. 1970.

Primary Exa minerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerR. T. Stouffer Att0rney-Wicks and Nemer [57] ABSTRACT A childrens amusement toy of a curved outer surface intersecting two parallel sides and a flat surface to form a solid body is disclosed. The body has a hollow center formed therein of a different configuration than the outer surface with a tunnel extending from the center to each side in a mutually perpendicular arrangement to allow children to rock within and upon the toy, climb through and upon the toy, and climb through and over the toy. The solid body is made to present a pleasing appearance through use of transparent surface material and a filling of multicolored foam material.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CHILDREN'S ROCKING AND CLIMBING TOY BACKGROUND This invention relates to toys, more particularly to childrens toys, and still more particularly to a type of childrens toy which may be played with, within, and upon.

An advantageous childrens toy is one which is versatile enough to allow a childs full use of his imagination, which is easy to fabricate, and which presents a pleasing appearance to the child. The present invention provides such a toy.

SUMMARY In summary, a preferred embodiment of the childrens toy of the present invention includes a rockerlike curved surface meeting a substantially flat surface and laterally limited by two parallel sides. A hollow center has access to each of the sides, the flat surface, and the curved surface through six tunnels extending to each from the six faces of a cube defining the hollow center. A child may then crawl into the toy or sit upon the flat surface of the toy and rock upon the rocker-like curved surface. A child may crawl within the toy and further rock upon the curved surface. A child may further rest the flat surface upon the ground and crawl through and over the childrens toy of the present invention and the curved surface thus turned upward.

The outside surfaces of the preferred embodiment of the childrens toy of the present invention are of transparent material, and the body of the toy is filled with separately colored plastic foam areas to present a colorful and pleasing external appearance to the child.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a novel childrens toy.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel childrens toy which is versatile and allows the child to use his imagination.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel childrens toy which presents a pleasing external appearance to the child.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the children s toy of the present invention illustrating the novel coloration and filling of the toy.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the childs toy of the present invention showing the internal parts thereof in solid and the outline in phantom.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show various stages of construction of the childrens toy of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION In the figures, a preferred embodiment of the childrens toy according to the present invention, generally designated 10, is shown as including a curved rockerlike surface 12, having a peak 14 and first and second ends 16 and 18. A substantially flat surface 20 extends between ends 16 and 18 of curved surface 14, and parallel sides 22 and 24 arranged perpendicularly to the plane of surface 20 extend between the edges of surface 20 and curved surface 12 to close these surfaces and to define a solid body 26.

A hollow, designated 28, is defined within body 26 by a cube 30 having faces 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37.

Face 32 lies adjacent surface 20 and is arranged to be parallel to it. Face 34 is opposite face 32 and is arranged to be nearer peak 14. Face 36 is between faces 32 and 34 adjacent side 22 and parallel to it, and face 37 is arranged opposite face 36, adjacent side 24, and parallel to side 24. Faces 33 and 35 are arranged between faces 32 and 34 on opposite sides of peak 14 of curved surface 12 and adjacent the portion of curved surface 12 between peak 14 and the ends 16 and 18. A first cylindrical tunnel 40 extends between face 32 of cube 30 and surface 20 to intersect surface 20 and provide access between the exterior of body 26 and the hollow 28 within body 26. Similarly, a second tunnel 41 extends between face 33 and the portion of curved surface 12 between peak 14 and end 16; a third tunnel 42 extends between face 34 and the portion of curved surface 12 near peak 14 of curved surface 12; a fourth tunnel 43 extends between face 35 and the portion of curved surface 12 between peak 14 and end 18; a fifth tunnel 44 extends between face 36 and side 22; and a sixth tunnel 45 extends between face 37 and side 24. As indicated, all tunnels intersect their respective surfaces to provide access between the exterior of body 26 and hollow 28 within cube 30.

The manner in which the childrens toy of the present invention may be fabricated may now be explained. FIG. 3 shows a cube 30, which in the preferred embodiment includes 20 inch sides and 17 inch apertures 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, and 51 formed one to each of sides 32 37, respectively. Cube 30 may be formed of any light weight thin, durable material.

Next, as best seen in FIG. 4, tunnels 40 45 are securely attached to cube 30 within their respective apertures 46 51, and the entire assembly is stood upon tunnel 40 attached to face 32. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, cylindrical tunnels 40 45 may also be of various materials which are thin and yet strong.

Next,a sheet 54, best seen in FIG. 4, is placed over the partially completed cube 30 and attached tunnels 40 45 and a determination is made as to the proper angle at which the tunnels 41, 42, and 43 need be cut to conform and mount flush to curved surface 12.

Sheet 54 is then set aside and, in the preferred embodiment, a sheet of flexible, relatively thin, transparent, strong plastic sheeting is placed upon the curve defined in a pre-prepared plywood mold stand 56 with the pre-cut tunnels 41, 42, and 43 arranged to properly contact what will become curved surface 12. At this time, the pre-cut ends of tunnels 41, 42, and 43 are adhered to the surface ultimately to become surface 12. Next, tunnels 44 and 45 are cut to be flush with sides 22 and 24, and transparent plastic sides 22 and 24 rigidly attached to surface 12.

.At this point the childs toy of the present invention is filled with a plastic foam as follows: The foam used is of a conventional type requiring the mixing of two components where, upon the mixing of these components, the foam displaces itself by approximately 30 times. Separate amounts of foam are prepared, colored, and poured into the open vessel comprising the sides 22 and 24 and curved surface 12. The poured foam thus partially filling body 26 of the childrens toy 10 of the present invention. By successively mixing differently colored amounts of foam and adding each amount to curved surface 12, surface 20, and sides 22 and 24.

Also, if an amount of foam is poured onto body 26 while the last foam added has not yet hardened, an edgewise fusion of colors takes place in which a different color may be created at 'the edges and in which a different texture may be created at the edges.

When foam added to fill body 26 is cured and dry, transparent surface 20 is secured to complete the solid body 26, and all surfaces are cut to provide access to their respective tunnels.

OPERATION Thus, children may orient toy 10 such that curved surface 12 is resting upon the ground, and may crawl within hollow 28 of toy 1 and thus rock within it. Children may also climb upon surface 20 of toy l0 and rock upon it. Children may further climb through'the various tunnels 40 45. Still further children may select substantially flat surface 20 to rest upon the ground and also climb through the various tunnels 40 45 and over curved surface 12 of toy 10. Additionally, children may rest toy on either side 22 or 24 and yet climb through, over, about, and around toy 10.

Thus, since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, the

embodiment described herein is to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. A childrens toy, comprising: a generally solid body comprising: a convexly curved outer surface of transparent material having first and second ends and a peak between the first and second ends; a substantially flat surface of transparent material extending between the ends of the curved surface; a first side of transparent material extending between one edge of the flat surface and one edge of the curved surface; a second side of transparent material extending between the other edge of the flat surface and the other edge of the curved surface; a hollow three-dimensional walled structure of different configuration than and positioned within the outer surface of the body, wherein said structure has an outside surface spaced and separated from each of the curved surface, flat surface, first side, and second side such that the inner surface of said structure defines a hollow which is within the body and bounded by substantial material of the body; a plurality of passageways, each formed from a hollow threedimensional structure, the inner surface of which defines a tunnel, and each tunnel having a greater length than the thickness of the walls of the walled structure, each tunnel extending between the outside surface of the hollow three-dimensional walled structure within the body and the surfaces of the body to allow children to rock within and upon the toy, climb through and upon the toy, and climb through and over the toy and to allow the material of the generally solid body filling the space within the body and around the three-dimensional walled structure and tunnels to be of a decorative pattern and coloration.

2. The childrens toy of claim 1, wherein: A first tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the flat surface; a second tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the curved surface; a third tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the curved surface; a fourth tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the curved surface; a fifth tunnel extends between a hollow within the body and the first side; a sixth tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the second side; and all tunnels intersect the respective surfaces to which they extend to provide access between the exterior of the body and the hollow within the body.

3. The childrens toy of claim 2 wherein the first and second sides are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the flat surface.

4. The children s toy of claim 3 wherein the peak of the curved surface is equally spaced between the first and second ends of the curved surface; wherein the third tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the curved surface near the peak; wherein the first tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the flat surface in line with the third tunnel; wherein the second tunnel and fourth tunnel lie in a line and are arranged substantially perpendicularly to the first tunnel and third tunnel; and wherein the fifth tunnel and sixth tunnel lie'in a line and are arranged substantially perpendicular to both the first and third tunnels and a second and fourth tunnel.

5. A children s toy of claim 4, wherein the ends of the tunnels are flush with the surfaces to which they extend.

6. The childrens toy of claim 5 wherein the hollow within the body is in the form of a cube and one tunnel extends from each of the six sides of the cube.

7. The children s toy of claim 6, wherein each of the tunnels is tubular in shape.

8. The childrens toy of claim 4, wherein the body is filled with separately colored amounts of plastic foam to allow a colorful appearance to children playing with and upon the toy.

9. The childrens toy of claim 2, wherein the body is filled with separately colored amounts of plastic foam to allow a colorful appearance to children playing with and upon the toy.

10. The childrens toy of claim 1, wherein the body is filled with separately colored amounts of plastic foam to allow a colorful appearance to children playing with and upon the toy. 

1. A children''s toy, comprising: a generally solid body comprising: a convexly curved outer surface of transparent material having first and second ends and a peak between the first and second ends; a substantially flat surface of transparent material extending between the ends of the curved surface; a first side of transparent material extending between one edge of the flat surface and one edge of the curved surface; a second side of transparent material extending between the other edge of the flat surface and the other edge of the curved surface; a hollow three-dimensional walled structure of different configuration than and positioned within the outer surface of the body, wherein said structure has an outside surface spaced and separated from each of the curved surface, flat surface, first side, and second side such that the inner surface of said structure defines a hollow which is within the body and bounded by substantial material of the body; a plurality of passageways, each formed from a hollow three-dimensional structure, the inner surface of which defines a tunnel, and each tunnel having a greater length than the thickness of the walls of the walled structure, each tunnel extending between the outside surface of the hollow three-dimensional walled structure within the body and the surfaces of the body to allow children to rock within and upon the toy, climb through and upon the toy, and climb through and over the toy and to allow the material of the generally solid body filling the space within the body and around the threedimensional walled structure and tunnels to be of a decorative pattern and coloration.
 2. The children''s toy of claim 1, wherein: A first tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the flat surface; a second tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the curved surface; a third tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the curved surface; a fourth tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the curved surface; a fifth tunnel extends between a hollow within the body and the first side; a sixth tunnel extends beTween the hollow within the body and the second side; and all tunnels intersect the respective surfaces to which they extend to provide access between the exterior of the body and the hollow within the body.
 3. The children''s toy of claim 2 wherein the first and second sides are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the flat surface.
 4. The children''s toy of claim 3 wherein the peak of the curved surface is equally spaced between the first and second ends of the curved surface; wherein the third tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the curved surface near the peak; wherein the first tunnel extends between the hollow within the body and the flat surface in line with the third tunnel; wherein the second tunnel and fourth tunnel lie in a line and are arranged substantially perpendicularly to the first tunnel and third tunnel; and wherein the fifth tunnel and sixth tunnel lie in a line and are arranged substantially perpendicular to both the first and third tunnels and a second and fourth tunnel.
 5. A children''s toy of claim 4, wherein the ends of the tunnels are flush with the surfaces to which they extend.
 6. The children''s toy of claim 5 wherein the hollow within the body is in the form of a cube and one tunnel extends from each of the six sides of the cube.
 7. The children''s toy of claim 6, wherein each of the tunnels is tubular in shape.
 8. The children''s toy of claim 4, wherein the body is filled with separately colored amounts of plastic foam to allow a colorful appearance to children playing with and upon the toy.
 9. The children''s toy of claim 2, wherein the body is filled with separately colored amounts of plastic foam to allow a colorful appearance to children playing with and upon the toy.
 10. The children''s toy of claim 1, wherein the body is filled with separately colored amounts of plastic foam to allow a colorful appearance to children playing with and upon the toy. 